Iceland: Mayor of Reykjavík wants to cut ties with Moscow over passage of anti-gay law

Jón Gnarr filed a motion to cut cultural and political ties between the two cities

The mayor of Iceland’s capital city Reykjavic wants to cut cultural and political ties between Moscow and his city over the recent passage of anti-gay legislation in Russia.

Since 2007, the two cities have been sister cities, exchanging cultural and political information, and cooperating on policies around youth and family reports the Reykjavíc Grapevine.

The Mayor of Reykjavic Jón Gnarr filed a motion in a city council meeting last week to end the relationship between the two cities.

In his motion he cited the passage of a recently introduced law banning “homosexual propaganda”, which was signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin last month.

“In light of the developments that have taken place in recent years in matters of gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Russia, the Human Rights Office and the Mayor’s Office have entrusted the deputy mayor to propose amendments to the existing agreement between the two cities or terminate it all together following consultation with the Foreign Ministry,” read the minutes from the City Council meeting, according to the Reykjavic Grapevine.

The bills, which have since been signed by President Vladimir Putin, bans foreign same-sex couples and unmarried individuals in countries where same-sex marriage is legal from adopting Russian children.